Tuna | Species | WWF Species e Habitats Oceans If fish were like cars, tuna would be the Ferraris of the ocean—sleek, powerful, and made for speed. Their torpedo-shaped bodies streamline their movement through water, and their special swimming muscles enable them to cruise the ocean highways with great efficiency. Tuna are remarkable and impressive wild animals. The Atlantic bluefin can reach ten feet in length and weigh as much as 1500 pounds (more than a horse). Their specialized body shape, fins and scales enable some species of tuna to swim as fast as 43 miles per hour. Tuna swim incredible distances as they migrate. Some tuna are born in the Gulf of Mexico, cross the entire Atlantic Ocean to feed off coast of Europe, and then swim all the way back to the Gulf to breed. These extraordinary marine animals are also integral to the diet of millions and are one of the most commercially valuable fish. The majority of the market is made up of four species: skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. As the methods of catching tuna have improved over the years, the conservation and management of tuna has not evolved as quickly.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, most tuna stocks are fully exploited (meaning there is no room for fishery expansion) and some are already overexploited (there is a risk of stock collapse). Some tuna can swim as fast as 43 miles per hour Places Are We Buying the Fish We Think We’re Buying? WWF is urging the US government to establish regulations, including the proposal of a national traceability program to track seafood from the point where it is caught to its entry into the US, under which all species of fish are eventually covered. Skipjack Tuna Why They Matter Tuna are among the most commercially valuable fish on the planet. The Atlantic bluefin is a highly sought-after delicacy for sushi and sashimi in Asia—a single fish has sold for over $700,000! Driven by such high prices, fishermen use even more refined techniques to catch tuna. And the fish are disappearing as a result. Although tuna do provide food and livelihoods for people, they are more than just seafood. Tuna are a top predator in the marine food chain, maintaining a balance in the ocean environment.

Threats The tuna oceanic highways have turned into gauntlets lined with giant nets and endless lines of fishing boats. Fishermen have resorted to high-tech ways to catch tuna, including devices that draw the fish into bunches so that fishermen can catch more of them at once. Many of the world’s valuable tuna species face a number of urgent yet common threats to their continued existence such as significant population declines, poor international conservation management, and high levels of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (pirate) fishing. Illegal fishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna is a big problem and the fishery has been plagued by lack of enforcement and control. What WWF Is Doing WWF focuses on transforming the global tuna fisheries market and improving the way tuna fisheries are managed and governed. Our approach is for tuna stocks to be managed as integral parts of the entire marine ecosystem. WWF works on seven tuna populations with the highest market value and therefore most vulnerable to overfishing: the Atlantic, Southern and Pacific bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, albacore and skipjack tuna. We work with other organizations as well as the fishing, processing and retailing sector to transform tuna fishing into a sustainable business.

Our goal is to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for healthy and well-managed tuna populations. Stopping Overfishing In the Mediterranean, WWF has been working for over 10 years to protect Atlantic bluefin tuna. We work to stop overfishing and ensure recovery of the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock. WWF has been very influential in most of the decisions made by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the body that regulates the fisheries. Tuna Tagging Since 2008, WWF has been tagging Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea to learn more about the species. The data collected so far has helped us learn more about their migratory behaviors and enabled us to advise fisheries managers on how best to protect the species. With more field tagging work, WWF and its partners can continue to fill the gaps on the bluefin’s biology and help give this emblematic fish a chance at survival for the long term. Albacore Tuna Recreational Fishing Information | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife The tuna laying on the deck is a Pacific Bonito caught off Westport.

Albacore Catch by State Albacore catch by year compared to angler effort 2008 Recreational Albacore Catch by Port Albacore Catch on Charter Boats Compared to Private Vessels Recreational Fishery Albacore tuna can be caught off the Washington coast in summer and early fall. Even though albacore can be caught all summer, August and September tend to be the most popular months for anglers. Albacore are usually more abundant during August and September and the weather is normally little calmer during this time too. Recreational anglers typically fish or albacore 50 to 100 miles off the Washington coast. Occasionally the albacore will come in as close as 35 miles and, on rare occasions, they have been known to come in as close as 15 miles. Recreational albacore trips can last one to three days depending on the distance traveled to the tuna grounds. Albacore are caught on jigs and live bait. Jigs are trolled behind the vessel until a “hook up.” Then the vessel drifts while the jig caught tuna are played by the fishermen.

While the jig caught tuna are being played, fishermen who are not playing a jig caught tuna will fish for tuna using a live anchovy and light weight gear. The anchovy is carefully placed on a single hook with little or no weight then it is free-spooled out into the water until a tuna strikes. Tuna caught on live bait are extremely fun to catch because they have a lot of fight in them and the battle can last for a long time. Currently, there is no bag limit on albacore; however, in 2005, NMFS and the State Department committed, at the international level, to not increase U.S. fishing effort on albacore above current levels. To avoid overfishing on albacore in the future, the West Coast states are exploring whether to implement state bag limits for albacore. Oregon currently has an albacore bag limit of 25; Washington and California are in the process of considering bag limit options for their respective states. Beginning in 2006, a recreational fishing license is required to fish for albacore. Anglers can purchase either a saltwater angling license, or combo license, or a multi-day stamp.

Using real data collected by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ocean Sampling Program (OSP) the average catch per recreational fisherman from 2001 through 2005 was 8.4 albacore per person. The highest recorded catch during this period is 53 albacore per person but, as can be seen in the following chart, catching more than 23 albacore per person is uncommon. Washington catches about 27% of the total coastwide sport albacore catch. California catches 61% while Oregon catches 12% of the recreational albacore. Even though Washington recreational anglers catch 27% of the coastwide sport albacore catch, Washington’s sport catch is less than 10% of the total Washington albacore catch. The majority of the recreational catch is landed into Westport. In 2005 88% of Washington’s sport albacore catch was landed in to Westport and only 10% of the catch was landed into Ilwaco.

In 2005, the North Coast (Neah Bay and La Push) made up 2% of the recreational catch but some years their catch was less than 1%. Recreational albacore catches in Washington can be broken down to charter boat anglers versus private anglers. Private anglers, those who do not charter a boat, make up about 20% of total anglers, and tend not to catch as many albacore per angler as charter anglers. From 2001 to 2005 private fishermen averaged 3.2 albacore per angler but charter fishers averaged 9.6 albacore per angler. Albacore fishing in Washington is becoming more popular each year. In 2000, 884 anglers caught 7,416 albacore. By 2005, 1,509 anglers caught 13,163 albacore. In 2000, the average catch was 8.4 albacore per angler but, in 2001, the albacore catch averaged 13.1 albacore per angler.

By 2005 the average catch was back at 8.7 albacore per angler How to Know Which Tuna Is Most Toxic | Rodale's Organic Life How to Know Which Tuna Is Most Toxic Different species of tuna contain different levels of mercury, and some are better than others. By Emily Main April 29, 2010 U.S.-caught albacore tuna is safest, but it's not in sushi. The day it was discovered that tuna may contain large amounts of mercury, tuna salad sandwiches became social pariahs. Experts advised women and children to limit tuna consumption, as mercury can build up in the blood and even cause brain damage. In kids, high mercury levels can impair neurological development. Advertisement Privacy Policy | About Us But a study published in the journal Biological Letters finds that all tuna is not created equal. While most species contain dangerous levels of mercury, some have significantly lower amounts than others. Unfortunately, learning how to select the healthiest fish and avoid the unhealthiest can be difficult, thanks to strange, sometimes absent labeling on menus and packages.

THE DETAILS: The study authors worked with The New York Times to collect tuna samples from 54 sushi restaurants and 15 grocery stores in New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. In total, they collected 100 samples. Using DNA tests, they identified the exact species of tuna and, because mercury content is usually lower in tuna with a high fat content and vice versa, classified them as either lean (akami) or fatty (toro). Finally, each sample was tested for mercury content. The highest levels of mercury were found in two species, bigeye and lean bluefin (bluefin akami), and the lowest levels were in yellowfin and fatty bluefin (bluefin toro). Every sample contained mercury at levels above those designated as safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The researchers also found higher mercury levels than have been reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and noted that tuna sold in restaurants contained higher levels than tuna bought in grocery stores. Most likely this is because sushi-grade tuna is leaner and comes from larger fish, note the researchers. Finally, 77 percent of the tuna that came from grocery stores was yellowfin, which has relatively low mercury levels.

WHAT IT MEANS: Mercury-contaminated fish remains your primary source of exposure to this brain-damaging heavy metal, according to the EPA. And predatory fish like tuna, swordfish, and sharks contain the highest levels. Mercury does the most damage to women who are either breastfeeding, pregnant or of childbearing age, since the heavy metal can affect the developing brains of fetuses and infants. The EPA and Food and Drug Administration fish-consumption advisory stipulates that these women, and their children, should avoid entirely shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, due to high mercury levels. The advisory also says to eat no more than two meals a week of fish or shellfish with lower levels of mercury, such as shrimp or wild Alaskan salmon. Tuna falls between those two categories, but it’s tough to know what you're eating when restaurants and grocery stores don't always advertise what species of tuna is on the menu. To help you understand what you’re eating, here's a useful breakdown of tuna terminology, courtesy of the Monterey Bay Aquarium: • Albacore. Albacore tuna is one of the healthiest fish you can eat, provided it's caught in the U.S. or British Columbia.

This tuna is caught when it's younger and therefore has had less time to build up high levels of mercury, but albacore imported from other countries is caught when it's older and thus contains more mercury. So location is key. Canned albacore is always labeled "chunk white." You can buy American and Canadian albacore tuna from online sources including Heritage Foods USA, Pacific Fleet, MaryLu Seafoods, Wild Planet, and Wild Pacific Seafood. • Chunk Light. Unlike "chunk white," "chunk light" tuna is a blend of different species and often includes meat from high-mercury bigeye tuna, along with less-contaminated yellowfin. It's best to avoid chunk light tuna. Instead, stock up on cans of American and Canadian albacore. • Canned Light. "Chunk light" and "canned light" aren't same thing, either. The most common type of tuna sold as "canned light" is skipjack, which is sometimes referred to as yellowfin, and contains relatively low levels of mercury. However, according to the study, yellowfin samples still had enough mercury to make them unsafe for women and children.

Again, best to avoid this type of tuna in favor of American and Canadian albacore. • Market names. At a sushi restaurant or in the frozen fish section, tuna is often listed under market names that refer to cuts of meat, rather than species names. Thus, bigeye and yellowfin tuna can variously go by the names ahi, maguro, or toro. Bluefin tuna is often listed by its species name, but is also sold as kuromaguro, horse mackerel, atun de aleta azul, hon maguro, and toro. Along with its high mercury content, bluefin is heavily overfished and is listed as endangered. And the tests found that sushi tuna had the highest mercury levels, regardless of species. Bottom line: If you're in a tuna-risk group, limit your tuna intake and stick to the safest type you can buy. And when you do indulge in a can of tuna every now and then, here's how to make it taste amazing: Mercury alert: Is canned tuna safe to eat? | Environmental Defense Fund Mercury alert: Is canned tuna safe to eat? Adults and pregnant women: See below for more details. both The tuna sandwich is a lunchbox staple.

But several species of tuna, like other large ocean fish, contain higher-than-average amounts of mercury. This is of particular concern for young children, whose nervous system, brain, heart, kidneys and lungs are all susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury, which is highly toxic. Where does mercury come from? Air pollution. Specifically, it rains down on rivers, lakes and oceans after being emitted from power plants and other industrial sources that burn fossil fuels. How much canned tuna is OK? Fortunately, parents and kids need not give up tuna altogether. There are two main kinds of canned tuna: chunk light and solid or chunk white (albacore). Most canned white tuna is albacore. Its mercury levels are almost three times higher than the smaller skipjack, used in most canned light tuna. These recommendations are based on EPA guidance and estimates of mercury in the most popular canned tunas: Canned white , or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to one 3-ounce portion a month; children from 6–12, two 4.5-ounce portions a month.

Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat it up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions). Canned light — the safer choice (0.12 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to three 3-ounce portions per month. Older children and adults can safely eat it once a week. But look out for “gourmet” or “tonno” labels. They are made with bigger yellowfin tuna and can contain mercury levels comparable to canned white. A better alternative is canned salmon (mostly sockeye or pink from Alaska), which is low in contaminants and high in heart-healthy omega-3s. It’s also sustainably caught in Alaska and similarly priced, making it a great choice all around. Keep an eye on school lunches A study by the Mercury Policy Project found a wide range of mercury levels in both light and white tuna from government-sponsored school lunch programs. Some of the canned albacore/white tuna tested had mercury levels almost four times the average level reported by FDA. For health warnings about other fish, see our Seafood Selector .

Another risk: Kids’ food containers Several years ago, a hazardous chemical known as BPA was found in many household products, like sippy cups. As a result, retailers began using other replacement chemicals in their products, and advertising them as “BPA-free.” Unfortunately, this is no guarantee of safety. Difference Between Albacore and Tuna | Difference Between Difference Between Albacore and Tuna • Categorized under Food | Difference Between Albacore and Tuna Albacore vs Tuna Tuna is one of the most sought after food items nowadays. It’s not just because of its taste rather it is most likely because of its health benefits. Nevertheless, there are many types of tunas and these are: the bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, bigeye, bonito, blackfin and the albacore. The latter is marketed as white meat. In fact, it is the only tuna among the seven types that is hailed as having the truest white meat. In the grocery stores it can also be marked as ‘fancy white’ or simple ‘white tuna.’ This is probably the reason why it’s more expensive that regular tuna.

Albacore tuna is dubbed as the second largest commercial catch in the U.S., after the yellowfin tuna. This fish is usually obtained from the eastern Pacific oceanic areas. In this connection, regular tuna usually comes from yellowfin because of this big catch. Moreover, this is also the reason why yellowfin and albacrore are the two tuna types that are readily available at sea food restaurants and sushi bars. At these food spots, albacore is usually prepared as sushi or sashimi especially at the Japanese restaurants. Unlike ordinary tunas, albacore also contains more omega 3 fatty acids. This makes it a healthier food choice that is good for one’s heart and even fights certain types of cancer. These fatty acids actually increase the total fat content and calorie value of the product. This is not that bad at all since, as mentioned, this is a good type of fat. Contrary to the claim of other people, albacore tuna has a low amount of mercury, says a recent finding by the FDA. Nevertheless, it is also true that not all albacores are the same. This means that some canned albacores are healthier while some may not be that healthy.

The reason for such is on the handling of the fish upon catching, packaging and also the size of the tuna itself. Adding other fillers like soy, water and vegetable broth may degrade the full taste of the albacore. Regarding fish size, it is said that fishing smaller albacores are better tasting that the bigger fishes. In summary: Albacore has a non metallic and a non-fishy taste compared to regular tuna. It is said to have the lightest flesh, not to mention, the mildest tuna flavor around. Albacore is priced higher than regular tuna Albacore has more fats and calories than regular tuna. According to a recent FDA report, in moderation, albacore has lower mercury levels than other tuna products. 5. Albacore is a specific type of tuna while tuna is a more general term that has many subtypes like bluefin and yellowfin among others.

Related Posts Tuna Species Guide Tuna Species Guide Please select the required species from this list: Katsuwonus pelamis Other Languages: Netherlands: Gestreept tonijn, Spain: Listado, Barrilete, Italy: Palometta, Denmark: Bugstribet bonit, Germany: Echter Bonito, Portugal: Palamida, France: Listao, Japan: Katsuo, Indonesia: Cakalang, Papua New Guinea: Tjakalang, China: Then chien, Philippines: Gulyasan, Characteristics: Skipjack Tuna can be distinguished by the presence of four to seven dark, longitudinal stripes on their bellies. Their dark blue backs are accentuated by a clearly defined area of green above the pectoral fin, which fades away towards the middle of the body. They have silvery flanks and bellies, and short fins. These subheadings do not cover the Atlantic or belted bonitos (Sarda sarda), which have oblique bands on their backs.

Common Size: Size 110 cm, Weight 30 kg, Age 15 years Biggest Angled Fish: 20 kg - Mexico 1996 by Brian Evan Maturity: 1 year and around 2 kg Female: 42-50 cm 73% Western Pacific Ocean (63% WCPO, 8% SPO, 3% NPO) 7% Eastern Pacific Ocean Mostly purse seining, some pole & line (8%) Share of all Tuna Caught 2012: About 46% - 2,776,833 M/T Main Processing Nations: Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Ecuador, Ghana, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Samoa, Spain, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Vietnam Flags of Main Fleets: Taiwan, US, China, Japan, Indonesia, Spain Life Cycle: About 3 to 4 years Major Markets: Europe, United States, Arab World, Japan Popular Product Forms: Canned (90%), Pouched, Dried (Katsuobushi), Fillet (Tataki) Skipjack is the most popular tuna for consumption.

It prefers to swim in the upper mixed layers of the ocean waters and is mostly found between 45o N and 40o S. It is highly migratory and can be found all over the world within tropical waters. Large schools sometimes mix with small yellowfin. Normally dolphins do not swim together with small skipjack, which almost makes it a guaranteed dolphin-safe species. Skipjacks also mature around 1 year of age, a characteristic which promotes rapid turnover in skipjack populations. Product characteristics: The meat of the skipjack is darker of color, sometimes even slightly pinkish. It has a relatively tender texture and has somewhat more of a fishy taste than other tuna species. The small size of the fish gives small loins and chunks, making it excellent for canned tuna chunks. Future Supply: In the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), the biomass of skipjack tuna is very large and estimated to exceed that of the other three main tuna species combined. It is assumed that skipjack in the WCPO is a separate population (for stock assessment and management purposes) to the Eastern Pacific stock. Skipjack is clearly a species that is difficult to overfish because of its highly active reproductive behavior.

Local overfishing has been noted, however it should not be harmful to the spawning stock as a whole. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks. Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Raw frozen loins + steaks Yellowfin is the second tuna species is terms of volume and popularity. They are found between 45oN and 40oS. They cover enormous distances around the globe and all stocks mingle. It is a big fish which can swim at very high speed.

This may be one of the reasons why in some areas, dolphins and large full-grown yellowfin swim together. Through extensive measures and the creation of monitoring programs, the by-catch of dolphins has now become insignificant in relation to its natural mortality and was below 500 dolphins on a global basis. Product Characteristics: In cooked form the yellowfin meat tends to have a very light yellow/brown color. The structure of the meat is firm and the taste is mild. If the fish gets larger then 10-15 kgs the meat tends to become slightly darker and fairly dryer. The large size of the yellowfin makes it well fit for solid packaging in cans. Future Supply: The stock of Eastern Pacific Ocean has increased in spawning biomass in response to decreasing fishing mortality. There are no indications of the Western Central Pacific Ocean stock to be in an overfished state because the spawning biomass is above MSY level. The stock in the Indian Ocean is in a healthy state. The spawning biomass is uncertain in the Atlantic Ocean stock because of two assessment models that have different results; one increasing and one decreasing. The general concern with yellowfin is that due to increased catches of baby yellowfin on FAD’s, the stocks might suffer in the long term.

Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks. Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Product Characteristics: Due to its white colored meat albacore is also called "the chicken of the sea". As canned product it is quite popular in the States, where it is marketed as "White Tuna". The meat has a dry texture and the taste comes close to that of chicken meat. In Spain Atlantic Albacore is especially popular in jars with olive oil and sold as “Bonito Del Norte”. Future Supply: The stock of Albacore in the Northern Pacific isn’t overfished.

There are also no indications that the stock in the Southern Pacific is overfished either. In the Northern Atlantic Ocean there is no clear evidence of a sustained increase in biomass or a stable one. In the Southern Atlantic Ocean there are indications of the Albacore being in an overfished state. The situation in the Mediterranean is unknown. There are indications in the Indian Ocean that if overfishing continues the stock size is expected to go below the limit. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks.

Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Fresh Fillets (sashimi) Bigeye tuna swim at greater depths than Skipjack and Yellowfin, therefore having more fat to insulate them from cold water. This makes them especially attractive for the Japanese sashimi market. Product Characteristics: The meat turns light gray and somewhat darkish after cooking or grilling. Its color makes it less fit for canning. The color and taste of big fish is almost similar to that of beef. In S-America baby bigeye are sometimes used for canning; this is still marketed as light meat. Future Supply: There are no indications that the stock of the Eastern Pacific Ocean is expected to fall below limit in a few years. In the Western Central Pacific Ocean the stock has been subjected to overfishing for over one decade, but hasn’t become higher than the average recruitment levels in recent years.

In the Indian Ocean it shows no indication of being in an overfished state. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks. Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Canned Bonito is a species associated with the tuna family, but cannot be marketed as Tuna in many countries. Bonito is quite popular as a fried fish with olive oil, especially in the Mediterranean region. Due to its small size and firm dark meat it is well fit for this purpose. The species is mostly fished in coastal water by small local vessels. The catches tend to be quite seasonal.

Product characteristics: The bonito meat has a firm texture and a darkish color. However, small / young bonito can also have quite a light color close to that of skipjack. This is one of the reasons why it is sometimes used as a cheaper substitute of skipjack tuna, especially for canning purposes. The bonito has a moderate fat content. Future Supply: Due to the fact that bonito are caught by relatively small vessels and in several local regions, also as by-catch, it is quite hard to determine what the supply will be or is. Catching volumes in the Black Sea and Mediterranean have been decreasing during the last decade. The catches in the Gulf of Thailand, along the Birmese Coast, and South China Sea supply the canned tuna industry. The size of the fish tends to become smaller. The supply is irregular and quite limited. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks.

Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) (Sashimi) Northern Bluefin tuna makes extensive migrations. It is the slowest growing tuna species, which can reach an age of 20 years or more, which explains its size. Bluefin is extremely popular in Japan for sashimi, due to its large size, color, texture and its high fat content. Its quality in combination with its rarity makes it the most expensive tuna species. Future Supply: The Northern Bluefin is certainly a tuna species under threat. Its slow growth, in combination with the over-exploitation of the stocks has caused authorities to implement catching quota in the Eastern Atlantic. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed?

The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks. Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Fresh (Sashimi), super frozen Southern Bluefin are large, fast swimmers and a pelagic fish. It’s considered the ultimate delicatessen of the tuna family in Japan. For Bluefin sashimi (raw tuna fillets) the Japanese are willing to pay extremely high prices, due its size, color, high fat content, texture and taste. The high price is caused by the fact that this tuna species is very hard to get. Very few markets can compete with the prices that Japanese buyers are willing to pay.

Future Supply: The Southern Bluefin tuna is the most overexploited tuna species. The stocks are heavily depleted. Japan, Australia and New Zealand have imposed restrictions on the catching of this tuna species. This situation has triggered actions by several environmental groups such as WWF and Greenpeace. Many initiatives around the world have been taken to ranch wild caught bluefin tuna into captivity, In Croatia, Spain, Morocco, Australia and Japan. This industry will continue to grow, but due to the slow growth of the big-eye and the high costs involved, it cannot fulfill the demand for bluefin in any way. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks.

Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Fresh Tongol is mostly popular for canning purposes. It is a very seasonal fish caught mostly by small vessels in the waters along the Malay and Burmese coast. There are also local catches around the Indonesian archipelago. Product characteristics: The meat is quite tender and has an almost white color. It doesn't have a lot of taste. It is more appreciated as a canned product than the somewhat drier albacore meat. Future Supply: There is limited data available on the volume of the catch and the status of the current stocks. One reason is that Tongol is mainly caught by small local vessels, which makes monitoring difficult. The general feeling is that tongol catches are close to – at or already over their MSY. This is due to decreases in the sizes of landed fish. Availability tends to be very seasonal and mainly restricted to Indonesia and Thailand.

There is a general lack of information and data with all major tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO’s) on Tongol tuna. Management: Taking into account that tuna is a highly migratory species, how are tuna stocks being managed? The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the bodies responsible for the management of tuna populations; they monitor the activity within fishing countries in the region, setting catch limits in those areas. Tuna RFMOs are also responsible for regulating the fishing fleets and controlling the health of stocks. Currently, these are the active tuna RFMOs in the world: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Albacore Tuna | Species | WWF Albacore Tuna Albacore Tuna Albacore is one of the smaller tuna species, reaching sizes between skipjack and yellowfin. They are bullet-shaped with a dark blue back and lighter blue-gray sides and belly.

Albacore tuna also have very long pectoral fins and live for around 12 years. They tend to travel in single species schools, without the level of mixing as seen in other species and migrate throughout all ocean waters and the Mediterranean. Status: up to 4 feet long Places: Are We Buying the Fish We Think We’re Buying? WWF is urging the US government to establish regulations, including the proposal of a national traceability program to track seafood from the point where it is caught to its entry into the US, under which all species of fish are eventually covered. Continue Reading h View All Albacore Tuna Storiesh Why Albacore Tunas Matter These fish are important commercially, as they are one of the two main canned tuna species (along with skipjack), and labeled as ‘solid white’ tuna. Although tuna do provide food and livelihoods for people, they are more than just seafood. Tuna are a top predator in the marine food chain, maintaining a balance in the ocean environment. Threats According to information collected by the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, the northern and southern Atlantic Ocean stocks of albacore are overfished.

What WWF Is Doing Tuna are integral parts of the entire marine ecosystem and our goal is for populations to be healthy and well-managed. We partner with governments and regional fisheries management organizations to advocate for stricter plans to recover depleted tuna stocks, combat pirate fishing and reduce bycatch. WWF works with other organizations and the fishing industry to transform tuna fishing into a sustainable business, particularly through certification of tuna fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). WWF helps ensure that tuna are harvested responsibly and sustainably managed through work with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). We encourage retailers to source from fisheries that are MSC-certified and work to raise consumer awareness about sustainably caught tuna. When California albacore turn up their noses at trolled jigs, turn them on with these tricks. By Angelo Cuanang posted Sep 21st, 2007 at 8:32am The author hoists an albacore taken on a live-lined anchovy. Legendary for their explosive strikes and dogged fights, albacore have long been a favorite target of blue-water anglers along the central California coast. What I love about these fish is their penchant for making unannounced house calls.

It's a pure adrenaline rush when a school of these sleek bullets suddenly rips into your spread of trolling jigs, sending everyone scurrying for the rods. On the other side of the coin, albies can be as selective as wild trout, and there are many times when crashing pods of longfins will ignore every trolling jig you show them. Such fussy tuna can drive you crazy, but fortunately there are a number of things you can do to spark their interest. Jumpers and Tide Lines When albies invade the north-central coast from July to October, it's common to see jumping fish along the 100-fathom line or the canyon edges, particularly around current seams and color changes. Water temperatures are on the rise, too, but not to the point where they would qualify as classic "tuna water." For example, the water can be blue-green and several degrees below 60. At times, weed lines also dot the area. Another highlight of these "transition zones" is the abundance of bait. Upwellings along the canyon edges bring nutrients to the surface, resulting in plankton blooms that eventually attract huge bait schools - and big albacore.

We're talking fish in the 30- to 50-pound range. Unfortunately, the combination of cooler water and an overabundance of bait can make these large tuna picky about what they eat. Albies don't get big by being stupid, but you can fool them by showing them what they're looking for - namely, live bait. (top) Trolling swimming plugs can be an effective way to draw strikes from schools of hard-to-fool albacore. (bottom) Fish Trap swimbaits can be trolled, jigged or cast to surface-feeding albies. "Green-water" albacore feed on a variety of prey, including squid, shortbelly rockfish and sauries. These baits can be difficult to obtain, but live anchovies and sardines can also be extremely effective. Fly-lining your baits on the run is the way to go when tuna are chasing bait on top and refusing to hit trolled jigs. When approaching a pod of breaking albacore I'll stop short of the action and allow the boat's forward momentum to carry me into the red zone before tossing out my bait. React Quickly Because these fish are moving fast, you have to react quickly.

Select the friskiest bait from your tank and hook it crosswise through the nostrils, then lob it towards the fish, free-spooling line as the boat drifts forward. Whether you are using anchovies or sardines, it's critical to match the hook to the size of your bait. Too big a hook will kill the action of your bait, and a shiny hook can turn the tuna off. I've had great success with Owner's Flyliner Hooks (model 5314) in sizes ranging from No. 1 to 3/0. Circle hooks can also be very effective, particularly the Owner Mutu Light (model 5314) in sizes No. 1 to 3/0. If the drift is fast or your fishfinder indicates the albies and baitfish have moved deeper, attach a small rubbercore sinker two feet above the hook. When the fishing pressure is heavy, the albies and baitfish will often vacate the area or simply go deep, holding anywhere from 50 to 200 feet below the surface. These fish aren't going to come to the top for a while, so you have to get your bait down to them.

Albacore make for great sport on light tackle. Here, the author's brother, Abe, palms his reel to bring a hard-fighting albie to the surface. To do this, bring some torpedo sinkers from four to 16 ounces. Tie your main line to one end of the sinker and attach a three- to four-foot section of 30- to 40-pound-test fluorocarbon leader ending in a circle hook to the other. Finally, pin a big sardine or anchovy crosswise through the nostrils and drop it down to where you are marking fish. Stagger the lines so you can cover different levels of the water column. For example, if you are fishing four lines, drop two just below the level of the bait and the other two just above the bait. Set the drags light with the clickers on. When an albie grabs the bait, let it run a few feet before locking up and lifting the rod. Leave the other lines down and get ready for another bite.

Try a Trolling Plug If your boat does not have a live well, try a diving plug, such as the Rapala CD11, CD14 or CD18 in green or blue mackerel finish. Similar lures from Braid, Yo-Zuri and Bagley also work well. Obviously, you should try to match the plug to the general size and color of the local baitfish. Large albies are notoriously picky, but they have a hard time resisting live bait. When dragging plugs, I usually fish four to five lines on trolling outfits. I use 5 1/2- to six-foot rods with 4/0 to 6/0 reels loaded with 40- to 50-pound, clear mono. I either tie my line directly to the plug or use a fluorocarbon leader. I generally start off with two lines placed on the third wake and two lines on wakes five and six, along with a center line. Trolling speed varies. Albies will bite a slow-moving plug trolled at three knots, but in most cases I'll pull them at four to five knots.

The Rapalas can be trolled at over eight knots without flipping over, which is handy when trying to keep up with fast-moving fish. Try to get ahead of the school and pull the plugs in front of the lead fish. If you don't draw a strike, keep working the school by crossing in front and staying alongside of it. Don't run through the center of the school or you'll put the fish down. When the albies are really skittish, I'll fish my lines well behind the boat, sometimes 100 to 150 yards back. It's hard to make turns with long lines, but sometimes that's what it takes to draw a strike. Jigs and Swimbaits Other items you can add to your arsenal include metal jigs and swimbaits. Braid Slammer jigs, Luhr Jensen Crippled Herrings and Stinger jigs can be deadly when cast to surface feeders, when dropping back after a trolling strike, or when vertical jigging for albacore in the depths. When albies are on the move, position the boat well ahead of the school and pull a spread of swimming plugs in front of the lead fish.

When casting to busting fish, kill the engine well ahead of the school and allow the boat to coast within range. Make a long cast and allow the lure to sink, then start a fast retrieve interspersed with pumps of the rod tip. When an albie hits, wait until the line comes tight and the fish is moving away before lifting the rod. Swimbaits are also great for casting to surface feeders. Several companies make these soft-plastic baitfish imitations, but my favorite is the Fish Trap swimbait in the 4 1/2- to six-inch sizes. All the natural baitfish patterns work, but the best is Channel Island Anchovy. Swimbaits should be fished on jigheads ranging in size from one to four ounces. They can be cast and retrieved over breaking fish, added to the trolling spread or vertical-jigged over deep-feeding albacore. Just make sure you bring plenty of extra baits, because the albies chew them up pretty quick. Of course, that's not a bad problem to have, especially when it comes to California's most notoriously fickle game fish.

## Gear Preferences:#### Fly-LiningFor fly-lining baits, I use a baitcasting reel loaded with 15- to 25-pound line and matched with a seven-foot live-bait rod. Using clear, low-visibility line definitely produces more strikes. Albacore have exceptional eyesight, and will often reject baits not fished on small-diameter mono or fluorocarbon line.#### SpinningIf you prefer spinning gear, I recommend a reel that allows you to free-spool line with the bail in the closed position, such as the Penn Freeliner or Shimano Baitrunner. Load the reel with 15- to 20-pound mono and pair it with a seven-foot stick. If the fish are acting especially shy, tie the hook directly to the main line or use a two- to three-foot section of 25-pound fluorocarbon leader. Just remember to add a small ball-bearing swivel ahead of your leader or hook to avoid line twist.- Angelo Cuanang This feisty albacore was still a bit green on the gaff after hitting a trolled plug.

Deep-feeding tuna can be taken on live baits drifted above and below pods of baitfish marked on the depthsounder. Tags: Types of Fish | Cooking Light Types of Fish Aliza Green March 04, 2009 The five main varieties of fish, and how to substitute one species for another Fish can be categorized many ways; for example, Mark Bittman, author of How to Cook Everything, divides fish into 11 categories. For simplicity’s sake, we have identified five. Generally, you can substitute any fish within one category for another, although you’ll notice differences in taste. 1. Dark and oil rich: anchovies, bluefin tuna, grey mullet, herring, mackerel (Atlantic, Boston, or King), Salmon, farmed or King (Chinook), sardines, skipjack tuna 2. White, lean, and firm: Alaska pollock, catfish, grouper, haddock, Pacific cod, Pacific halibut, Pacific rockfish, Pacific sand dab & sole, striped bass (wild and hybrid), swordfish 3.

Medium color and oil rich: amberjack, Arctic char, Coho salmon, Hawaiian kampachi, mahimahi, paddlefish, pompano, Sockeye Salmon, wahoo, yellowfin tuna 4. White, lean, and flaky: Atlantic croaker, black sea bass, branzino, flounder, rainbow smelt, red snapper, tilapia, rainbow trout, weakfish (sea trout), whiting 5. White, firm, and oil rich: Atlantic shad, albacore tuna, California white sea bass, Chilean sea bass, cobia, lake trout, lake whitefish, Pacific escolar, Pacific sablefish, white sturgeon You May Like

Question: What type of which fish is an albacore?
Answer: Tuna